Future awaits Conroe High, Caney Creek graduates

Conroe High School graduates throw their caps in the air in celebration during Saturday’s commencement address at the Johnson Coliseum in Huntsville.

Conroe High School graduates throw their caps in the air in celebration during Saturday’s commencement address at the Johnson Coliseum in Huntsville.

Photo: Staff Photo By Eric Swist

Photo: Staff Photo By Eric Swist

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Conroe High School graduates throw their caps in the air in celebration during Saturday’s commencement address at the Johnson Coliseum in Huntsville.

Conroe High School graduates throw their caps in the air in celebration during Saturday’s commencement address at the Johnson Coliseum in Huntsville.

Photo: Staff Photo By Eric Swist

Future awaits Conroe High, Caney Creek graduates

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HUNTSVILLE — Sam Houston State University’s Johnson Coliseum rang with shouts of jubilation, expressions of pride and well wishes for the futures of many bright young students Saturday as both Conroe and Caney Creek high schools held their graduation ceremonies.

CHS’ 110th ceremony awarded 633 Tigers with diplomas. It was a happy and emotional time for Principal Dr. Chris Null.

“There’s been lots of achievements in this class,” Null said of seeing his third class of seniors off to college and careers.

Null, who formerly worked at Peet Junior High School, said he felt a special connection to the 2012 class, who earned over $5.1 million in scholarships.

“For many of them that went to Peet, I’ve gotten to see them grow since sixth grade, and now they’re graduating.”

Dressed in CHS’ signature gold robes, friends Chantal Bumhof, Lauren Chambers and Katherine McCartney all said they were overwhelmed at the thought of being high school graduates.

“It’s just crazy to think about,” said Chambers, who will attend McNeese State in the fall.

Bumhof will attend Texas A&M in the fall, while McCartney plans to start at Purdue University come August.

Class message deliverer Arianna Barrera told the class there was no need to rush ideas concerning the future or to search for “fame and fortune” in their lives. Instead, Barrera said happiness should be the class’ main goal.

“Not everything will be pink and sparkles, but it’s not riches, not a title that define happiness,” she said.

Nearly half the size of CHS’ graduating class, CCHS’ ceremony featured a more intimate atmosphere and a long-held tradition of the school that featured a lengthy strand of roses held by the entire class.

“At the end of the ceremony, all the roses are connected, and they’re cut by the teachers at the end. Students give the rose to someone who helped them in school or someone who supported them; lots of times its parents, teachers, counselors,” Meeks said. “It’s pretty special, pretty cool. As far as I know, we’re the only school that does anything like it.”

Through most of the ceremony, Alisa Bokemeyer was stuck sitting in a chair.

Bokemeyer, who had a large boot on her left foot and utilized crutches to hobble around the coliseum, broke her leg dancing during prom. But that was in no way going to stop her from attending graduation.

“It’s really important to me because I didn’t think I could graduate on time, and I proved to my parents that I could.”

Bokemeyer said her career goal was to become a nurse and likely study at Lone Star College in the fall.

CCHS Principal Trish McClure said she felt an undeniable sense of pride at seeing the school’s largest class ever receive their diplomas, but she was amused by the class’ demeanor.

“So many of them walk in and think they’re so big and bad and ready to take on the world, but for many of them right now, there’s butterflies in their stomach,” she said.

Sarah Durand, one of three class speakers, told her graduating class they should view their graduation as a key and life as a key ring, bearing many keys that lead to a multitude of doors.

“Each key opens a new door and will unlock new opportunities,” she said.